BillsSabresB.C.T. Fan
09-19-2007, 07:52 PM
Lines are starting to form in Lindy Ruff’s mind. The Buffalo Sabres’ coach shuffled his forwards around throughout the first few days of training camp, mixing veterans with junior players.
Two days before the preseason opener Friday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets in HSBC Arena, Ruff is beginning to draw up combinations he might use on opening night of the regular season in a little more than two weeks.
At practice Tuesday, at least two probable lines were assembled. The only line from last season that should stay intact — Derek Roy between Thomas Vanek and Maxim Afinogenov — skated together. Also, Tim Connolly centered Ales Kotalik and Jason Pominville.
“There’s been a little bit of a connection with Tim Connolly,” Ruff said. “He’s played well with whoever he’s played with in camp, but there’s always been a connection with him and Al from the past. If Tim can find Al, it’s a weapon I feel can be very dangerous.”
Ruff indicated another line would be constructed with Paul Gaustad or Jochen Hecht in the center, with the other on the left wing and Drew Stafford on the right wing. The fourth line likely would consist of Adam Mair in the middle with wingers Daniel Paille, Andrew Peters or Michael Ryan.
“There’s pieces in all of those top three we can move around,” Ruff said. “We know that Roy, Vanek and Stafford played well together and Kotalik and Connolly and Afinogenov at one time played really well together. We have options we can try.
“The scrimmages have all been high-scoring scrimmages. I don’t know whether it’s bad goaltending or good offense. Offensively, we do have a lot of talent on a lot of different lines. I think we’re going to be fine.”
Ruff said the training camp roster contains a misleading bit of info. Ryan is listed as a center, but he hasn’t been moved from the wing.
http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/sabresnhl/story/166056.html
Vanek - Roy - Afinogenov
Kotalik - Connoly - Pominville
Gaustad - Hecht - Stafford
Paille - Mair - Peters/Ryan
Two days before the preseason opener Friday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets in HSBC Arena, Ruff is beginning to draw up combinations he might use on opening night of the regular season in a little more than two weeks.
At practice Tuesday, at least two probable lines were assembled. The only line from last season that should stay intact — Derek Roy between Thomas Vanek and Maxim Afinogenov — skated together. Also, Tim Connolly centered Ales Kotalik and Jason Pominville.
“There’s been a little bit of a connection with Tim Connolly,” Ruff said. “He’s played well with whoever he’s played with in camp, but there’s always been a connection with him and Al from the past. If Tim can find Al, it’s a weapon I feel can be very dangerous.”
Ruff indicated another line would be constructed with Paul Gaustad or Jochen Hecht in the center, with the other on the left wing and Drew Stafford on the right wing. The fourth line likely would consist of Adam Mair in the middle with wingers Daniel Paille, Andrew Peters or Michael Ryan.
“There’s pieces in all of those top three we can move around,” Ruff said. “We know that Roy, Vanek and Stafford played well together and Kotalik and Connolly and Afinogenov at one time played really well together. We have options we can try.
“The scrimmages have all been high-scoring scrimmages. I don’t know whether it’s bad goaltending or good offense. Offensively, we do have a lot of talent on a lot of different lines. I think we’re going to be fine.”
Ruff said the training camp roster contains a misleading bit of info. Ryan is listed as a center, but he hasn’t been moved from the wing.
http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/sabresnhl/story/166056.html
Vanek - Roy - Afinogenov
Kotalik - Connoly - Pominville
Gaustad - Hecht - Stafford
Paille - Mair - Peters/Ryan